Once mastered, flying changes are fun to ride. To the uneducated eye, this movement looks like skipping as the horse shifts his balance from right to left and back again. Riding a change on a well trained horse is simple. By shifting your weight from one seat bone to the other the [...]

A few spaces are still available for the next clinic with Rex Peterson in January at Windrock Farm. Rex works with each horse/rider combination for a half day over the course of 3 days. Riders learn how to communicate more effectively with their horses through a sequence of excercises that teach the horse [...]

This time of year is beautiful with the leaves changing to brilliant amber, gold, and rich reds. The horses enjoy the countryside as an alternative to the routine of the ring work. Riding cross country also helps the rider develop better balance and confidence as you must negotiate varied terrain. It is [...]

Jill and her daughter Gracie enjoy a hack in the countryside, Leroy is saying hello to his new friend, King Richard, probably arguing that he should be King due to his stature.

Sometimes its more fun to ride with your daughter bareback, this is a wonderful excercise to test your balance as well as the temperament of the horse. Lisa and Ava are having a blast!

Indy gallops through the Preliminary water complex with confidence and his eye on the next question.
The water complex is often a problem for horses and riders on the cross country course. To prevent this from being an issue it is crucial that your horse schools through water often and always at a level above [...]

Cosmo is a 6 year old Irish Sport Horse imported one year ago from Ireland. He is an elastic supple horse with the potential to be a show jumper, event horse or high level dressage horse. He is kind, easy to ride and learns quickly–always looking to please his rider. This gelding [...]

This is a lovely horse who is clearly demonstrating an incorrect neck position–that is he is falling behind the vertical. You can see how the topline just before the poll is broken, thus preventing the energy from the hind legs to push through the back and into the bit. The rider should try [...]

An equisite moment of harmony between Will Faudree and Indiana Jones negotiating the water complex at Pine Top in September. Indy is relaxed, focused and confident with his partner as they negotiate this difficult course, coming in under the alloted time resulting in a fourth place finish at Preliminary.

For many riders who event, the cross country phase is the most exciting and fun part of the event. The dressage helps prepare the horse by teaching obedience and discipline and the show jumping tests the accuracy and fitness of the horse.
Whenever planning the cross country ride, I tell my riders to [...]